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Volume 5, Number 2 - Spring 2007
Original Viewpoints
from Project HOME
by Lawrence McCarty
Participants at Project H.O.M.E. are older adults who bring to the readings and infinite variety of life experience. Over the course of the ten-week series, they enthusiastically began to write but did not necessarily follow the prompt, a fact that resulted in freer expression of ideas. In some cases, the compositions would take the form of a poem or a lyrical paragraph connected to a theme. In other cases, the writer carefully examined the characters and plot of the story, confidently summing up these observations with a sincere note of wisdom taken from personal experience. In all cases, the writing showed original points of view and a rich variety of form.
The last day of the series was devoted to a review of the stories and responses. A woman, who had seldom spoken read her response to Hemingway’s “A Clean Well-Lighted Place:” “I like to go to the park/I think of different things I like/like the air/the cars that go by/what kind of a day it is/how I may be enjoying myself sitting out for the day.”
Another woman read her impressions of Annie Saumont’s “Before,” a story of love and hate in a country divided by civil war: “I have known the thin line of love and hatred and crossed it many times./I have my memories of love and hate.” As each participant read his or her work, a smile of satisfaction and accomplishment came to all in the group.
After reading “Mountain Birthday” by Anne Lamott
Making good decisions is one of my biggest difficulties. Being able to see all sides of the situation and unable to find resolution, to make a choice or decision, has caused much suffering in my life. Thus, the story “Mountain Birthday” held much interest for me as the author describes her mental and emotional battle of whether or not to allow her seven-year-old son to paraglide. Detailing out her psychic processes from start to finish held much insight into life. Laurel
After reading “Before” by Annie Saumont
I have known the thin
line of love and hatred
and crossed it many times
I have my memories of love and hate
Julia Galetti
After reading “Eveline” by James Joyce
I remember leaving
home.
I really didn’t, because I loved
Being with my mother and she
Didn’t want me to. Finally,
I decided to come back home
With my mother
Who I had missed.
Renee Selby
After reading “The Day It Happened” by Rosario Morales
I think we can all relate to “The Day It Happened,” whether we were married or not. If we were married, we know about married situations by going through them. To some degree or another, an argument, a disagreement came to a head, and something, maybe a decision, was made about it that was memorable. A decision that we reflect upon long after—maybe decades later. Likewise, we encounter marriages of friendships, jobs, employer-employee relationships—successes and failures, living up to responsibilities and failing in responsibilities. Contracts, contracts, contracts, varied forms of them! Jack! We need to get better so that we can share the experience and wisdom gained from the successes and failures. Better! Richard Bryant